During the final metres of the powered descent of Apollo 11, astronauts Neil Armstrong and
Buzz Aldrin lost sight of the lunar surface. As the retro-rockets fired towards the lunar dust–or …

A recently proposed hyperbolic granular model (Balakrishnan and Bellan, 2024) has been
used to investigate the problem of supersonic-jet induced cratering on a solid-particle bed …

Planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) was applied for the first time in the 20-ft vacuum
chamber at the Marshall Space Flight Center to visualize the plume-surface interaction (PSI) …

Craters form as the lander's exhaust interacts with the planetary surfaces. Understanding
this phenomenon is imperative to ensuring safe landings. We investigate the crater …

Extraterrestrial landings often require spacecraft to deploy supersonic jets directed at dusty
planetary surfaces to ensure controlled descents. This interaction, termed plume-surface …

This study investigates the differences in plume-surface interaction (PSI) cratering behavior
between Earth atmospheric (101,325 Pa) and subatmospheric (33 Pa) ambient pressures. A …

A recent formulation describing supersonic-plume impingement on a granular bed has been
shown to have the desirable property of being hyperbolic, thus permitting the physical …

The interaction of a rocket exhaust plume with a particulate-laden surface creates a
complex, multiphase flow field that can destabilize the vehicle and damage nearby …

Crater formation and evolution is a known consequence of Plume-Surface Interactions (PSI)
that is associated with several adverse effects. The evolution of these craters is a dynamic …

Flow visualization of a heated, inert-gas plume impinging onto a rigid surface was performed
in lunar-and Martian-relevant pressure conditions. The experimental campaign was part of a …